Meet Emilio Justo, MD of Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilio Justo, MD

Hi Emilio, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey is one of resilience, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of success. Born in Cuba under Fidel Castro’s oppressive regime, my family faced unimaginable hardships. My father, a small business owner, lost everything when Castro seized private property, and my parents made the courageous decision to flee. Our escape was perilous—my father had buried cash in the backyard, which he later used on the black market to buy airline tickets to Mexico. To leave Cuba, we had to match an inventory of all our belongings down to the last fork and plate; even the smallest discrepancy could have prevented our departure. With nothing but the clothes on our backs, we arrived in the United States in search of freedom and opportunity.

We settled in Gary, Indiana, where my parents worked tirelessly to rebuild our lives. My mother, despite already holding a Doctorate in Education, had to re-earn her credentials while my father worked multiple jobs. Their sacrifices taught me the value of self-discipline, resilience, and delayed gratification—the principles that I later coined as “The Cuban Triad.”

Despite growing up in poverty and facing challenges such as severe acne conglobata, which left me hospitalized for months, I remained laser-focused on my goals. At age 17, I graduated as Valedictorian of my parochial high school class. By the age of 23, I graduated from the prestigious University of Michigan Medical School, and by 27, I founded the Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center. Over the past three and a half decades, I have performed nearly 50,000 surgical procedures, specializing in refractive cataract surgery and CO2 laser blepharoplasty.

Beyond medicine, I have become a global thought leader. My TEDx talks, “Delayed Gratification: Your Superpower to Success” and “The Obsession Advantage to Unprecedented Success”, have amassed over 10 million views worldwide. I authored the Amazon bestselling book “The Power of Pause: Mastering Delayed Gratification for Success”, and I am deeply passionate about sharing the principles of patience, resilience, and purpose with others.

Today, I am not just a surgeon but also an educator, speaker, and advocate for perseverance. My journey—from a Cuban refugee to a leader in ophthalmology and personal development—is proof that with discipline, resilience, and delayed gratification, anything is possible.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My path has been anything but smooth. My family fled Cuba with nothing, and we endured years of financial instability. As a child, I was separated from my parents for five years while they worked to establish themselves in the U.S. This early sacrifice reinforced the principle of delayed gratification in my life.

During high school, I developed one of the most severe cases of acne conglobata ever recorded in medical literature. My face was constantly covered in painful, pus-filled cysts, making social interactions humiliating. I spent two months hospitalized at Northwestern University while doctors investigated whether I had an underlying disease like cancer. After three surgeries and two months away from high school, this experience tested my resilience, but instead of allowing it to break me, I used it as fuel to push forward. I became valedictorian of my high school class, proving that discipline and perseverance can overcome even the most discouraging circumstances.

In my professional career, I faced additional challenges. As an entrepreneur, I made costly business mistakes that nearly led to bankruptcy. At one point, my practice was on the verge of financial collapse due to poor management decisions. It was a humbling experience, but I refused to accept failure. I applied the same obsessive focus and discipline that got me through medical school and rebuilt my business stronger than ever.

Additionally, breaking into the world of public speaking was not easy. I had to overcome self-doubt and refine my message until it resonated with audiences worldwide. My TEDx talks on delayed gratification and obsession as a positive force were met with skepticism initially by a few, but through persistence and positivity, they became two of the most-watched TEDx talks globally​ with my Delayed Gratification talk being the #3 most widely-viewed TEDx talk of 2023, and the Obsession talk being the #1 most widely viewed TEDx talk of 2024.

We’ve been impressed with Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the Founder & Medical Director of the Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center, a leading ophthalmology and cosmetic surgery practice I established in 1989. For over three decades, I have specialized in refractive cataract surgery and CO2 laser blepharoplasty, performing nearly 50,000 procedures.

What sets my practice apart is our commitment to excellence, precision, and patient care. We were among the pioneers in adopting CO2 laser technology for eyelid surgery, and our advanced techniques have led to exceptional results with minimal downtime. Our practice emphasizes personalized care, ensuring that each patient receives treatment tailored to their unique needs.

Beyond medicine, I am dedicated to educating and inspiring others. My work as a speaker and author allows me to share the success principles that helped me build my practice from the ground up. My book The Power of Pause and my TEDx talks are extensions of my mission—to help people achieve success through discipline, resilience, and delayed gratification.

Brand-wise, I am most proud of the impact I have made not just in surgery, but in mentoring future generations. Whether through patient care, speaking engagements, or writing, I want my legacy to be one of inspiration, excellence, and relentless pursuit of success​.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk is an unavoidable part of success. However, I believe in calculated risk-taking—one that involves extensive preparation, disciplined execution, and resilience in the face of adversity.

One of the biggest risks I took was starting my own medical practice at the age of 27. Most physicians opt to join established practices after residency, but I chose the harder path of building my own business. I had no experience running a practice, and I made some early financial mistakes that nearly led to bankruptcy. However, through perseverance, I learned the business side of medicine and built one of the most successful ophthalmology and cosmetic surgery practices in Arizona.

Another major risk was pivoting into public speaking and thought leadership. As a busy surgeon, many would have advised against investing time in writing a book or giving TEDx talks. Yet, I saw an opportunity to expand my impact beyond the operating room. I spent years refining my message, taking the risk of putting myself on stage, and ultimately, my TEDx talks became some of the most widely viewed in the world.

I believe that risk is necessary for growth. Without taking risks, I would never have left Cuba, pursued medicine, or become a global speaker. However, successful risk-taking requires discipline, preparation, and an obsession with excellence—principles I embody in everything I do​.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dremiliojusto.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/emiliojustomd
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/dremiliojusto
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/emiliojustomd
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/emiliojustomd
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dremiliojusto
• Other: https://tiktok.com/emiliojustomd

Image Credits
Emilio M. Justo, MD at TEDxCherryCreekHS

Emilio M. Justo, MD at TEDxWesternU